The self care books that have changed my life!

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Anyone a follower of our family vlogs over on YouTube will know that since having children I’ve very openly been having issues with my mental health.

I haven’t really mentioned it on here for no reason other than I’m not really sure where to even start or how to bring it into conversation! I know I really ought to do a post on specifically my post natal experience though for sure as so many people have gotten in touch with me from hearing me talk on my vlog about my struggles; some even saying how much I have helped them to also get Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) because I’ve spoke about my experiences so openly!

If you are interested though in seeing what kind of issues i’ve had to deal with lately then feel free to pop on over to my YouTube channel…. theres many a ‘day in the life of mum’ style vlogs where I’m bound to be talking about my mental state … it’s a day in day out battle!!

Now I’ve never been someone that can sit down and read a book; I just can’t concentrate, I never take in the words and my memory is just terrible, chances are I will finish a page and completely forget what has literally just happened! I don’t actually think, apart from school reading books, I’ve EVER read a book from beginning to end… the closest I got was reading as an adult was probably the first Harry Potter book. I remember getting to the bit where Harry is left on the doorstep…. yes I’m fully aware that is not even past the first chapter but I’m just not someone that can read and take in a book!

About 6 months ago I was probably at my lowest point mentally; I and others had started to notice something wasn’t right and it was then I decided to seek some help for myself in any which way I can including self referring myself for CBT and concentrating on my own self care. I don’t know why but I felt I really NEEDED to read; I needed to take a step away from everything I was reading on anxiety via social media and concentrate on getting better. I was recommended by a lovely lady to try a book by Mel Robbins called The 5 Second Rule.

Because I’m not a reader I don’t even look at what books are available but the lady who recommended this book mentioned that she in fact listens to it on the way to work in her car …. my initial thought = ‘bloody genius’! Why hadn’t I thought of that… I would love to relax (maybe not while driving a car!) and get totally engrossed in a book, maybe just maybe now I can!!?

I headed straight to Amazon where I found a book accessible via the also Amazon owned Audible.co.uk. Audible sells digital audiobooks, radio and tv programs plus audio versions of newspapers and magazines too and it has helped me sooooo much!

I now pay around the £10/month mark for one new book credit every month; PLUS any book I finish I can exchange for another for FREE which I have already done with one book I just didn’t take to but why not sign up here for a free 30 day trial to try it out yourself – if you want to cancel after the 30 days then you are free to do so but having access to it for a month will certainly give you a feel if you take to audio books like I have or not.

In addition to the Mel Robbins book and since signing up to Audible I have gotten Fearne Cottons new one ‘Happy’ but have to admit to exchanging that a few chapters in as she mentioned PDF’s way to often which you would only obviously get with a hard copy and it got a little annoying to be fair so I changed Happy for for The Anxiety Solution by Chloe Brotheridge which is absolutely amazing! I thought the 5 Second Rule was good and bloody amazing for motivation but I can relate so much to The Anxiety Solution that it’s like listening to me and my story!

This month I received another credit and so downloaded another similar self help book by the name of How To Break Up With Your Phone by Catherine Price. I haven’t started this yet but it has really good reviews and I will start when I have finished Chloe’s book.

If you too struggle to concentrate whilst reading or you perhaps have to go on long car journeys to and from work/nursery etc … link up your phone to your car or ear phones and listen! I lay in bed every night before I go sleep, close my eyes, pop my earphones in and just switch off; if I can only do 5/10 minutes then it’s 5/10 minutes more than not doing it at all and it really helps my mind switch off before bed.

I would love to hear your recommendations for self help books in particular… I have a few to get through at the moment but I would love to hear if one in particular has helped you more than another or not perhaps?!

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About

Are you looking for hints and tips to stretch the family budget or do you just want to ensure you’re getting the best for your buck at all times?

Then this mummy saving expert is here for you!

I’m Kirsty. A mother of two (three if you include the hubby!). I created this blog back in 2016 as a way to make myself accountable for the savings I had to make myself to my day to life after reducing my hours at work. Childcare costs meant I was pretty much working for nothing!

My aim is to help you live the good life for less. To do that I not only confidently share with my readers tried and tested ways to make, save and spend your money wisely; but I also write about a range of other parenting topics including my mental health battles as a working mum because you needn’t pay a fortune to look after yourself either!